Six finalists for the Ben Franklin BIG IDEA Business Plan
Contest will participate in a day of entrepreneurial training on
Thursday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Erie Technology
Incubator (ETI) located on the Gannon University campus.

The contest, run by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of
Central and Northern Pennsylvania, is for entrepreneurs looking to
start their businesses. The training event at ETI precedes judging
that will take place later this summer in Erie at a date and
location to be determined.

The six finalists are vying for a grand prize that includes the
following:

$35,000;

six months of residence at the Erie Technology Incubator at
Gannon University (http://erietech.org);

The morning session of entrepreneurial training, led and
facilitated by Jeff Parnell, the interim executive director at ETI,
will cover advanced business plan development. The afternoon's
topic will focus on making successful pitch presentations offered
by Jill Edwards, the executive director of Ben Franklin's Venture
Investment Training Forum.

Direct Allergy - Robert Schultz/CEO - providing a turnkey
service to primary-care doctors for testing, diagnosis, and
treatment of patients, especially those in underserved rural areas,
who suffer from allergies.

reCAP Mason Jars - Karen Rzepecki/founder - the manufacturer and
Amazon top-seller of high-quality plastic caps for Mason jars is
developing an app that caters to those interested in using Mason
jars for creative uses. reCAP was the 2011 winner of the
InnovationErieDesign Competition.*

MedicalOpinionCenter.com LLC - Stephen Kovacs/CEO - has
developed a unique model that provides the expertise of three
medical specialists to be offered as an online medical service.

Advanced Power Control Solutions LLC - Christopher Abeyta/CEO -
Developed an innovative coal/natural gas hybrid burner technology
that allows compliance with EPA requirements and increases power
output from existing coal-fired power generation facilities that
are prevalent in Pennsylvania.

The Erie Technology Incubator at Gannon University is
Pennsylvania's only technology incubator. It provides early-stage,
high-growth technology-based companies with office space,
mentoring, strategic guidance and other resources.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners CNP, an initiative of the
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and
funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority,
provides investment capital and business support services to
emerging tech-based companies and small, existing manufacturers for
the purpose of creating and retaining jobs in Pennsylvania.

For more information about Ben Franklin, contact its Erie office in Knowledge Park at 814-898-6650 or visit www.cnp.benfranklin.org. For more information about ETI, call 814-459-6037 or visit www.erietech.org.